Finding Your Best Beta

One of the toughest challenges I faced when I first started writing fiction was finding someone to honestly assess my work.I didn’t know very many people who were fiction writers, and I had no idea where to begin.At the same time, I knew I’d taken my story as far as I could on my own.I needed a fresh set of eyes, someone who would be honest but not hurtful, who could push me to grow while reminding me I could do this.I needed a beta reader, but I had no idea where to find one.

For the uninitiated, a beta reader isn’t someone obsessed with fancy fish.It’s a person who does a thorough read and critique of your manuscript.Beta readers may help you with grammar and spelling, but they also point out plot holes, continuity problems and character issues.They’re the test drivers of your story.

So how do you find one of these mythical creatures, and what makes a good one? Here are a few aspects to consider:

Real life versus virtual:Plenty of writers I know have real-life beta readers.Often they find them through critique groups, in which members meet on a regular basis.Some may serve as beta readers for each other.If you are looking for support and for a tribe of fellow writers, this might work for you.

On the other hand, in my limited experience, real-life writing groups can also devolve into social groups, where there’s lots of chatter and wine but not a lot of work getting done.I’ve also seen them turn into pile-ons, in which one person makes a negative comment and everyone else joins in attacking someone’s work, or in which one person has success and the others feel obliged to tear them down.It can be hard not taking a beta reader’s feedback personally in such a situation.

Virtual betas. With an online relationship, many of the emotional aspects can be eliminated.You’re not getting together in person to receive feedback, which makes it easier.And there’s the convenience of ‘meeting’ via email, so there’s no need to get dressed, slog to the coffee shop, and face society.

That’s not to say you and your online beta can’t become buddies.I’ve become close friends with some of my virtual betas and been delighted when we’ve had a chance to meet in person.Others I’ve never met in real life, even though we live in the same state.It all depends on what you want.

Friends/family versus strangers. Who better to read your brilliant words than your best friend, brother, or mother?After all, they love you and have your best interests at heart, right?

The answer to that is, it depends.Sometimes the people who love us the best are the least likely to be honest, especially if they are concerned their feedback will hurt our feelings.It’s the writerly version of “Do these pants make me look fat?” And we know how that ends.

There are exceptions, of course.One of my beta readers is an old and dearest friend.She knows my literary history — the books that changed my world and that I aspire to emulate — and has no problem being brutally honest about when I’m hitting my mark and when I’m dogging it.(She also has no problem telling me when I look fat, so there you go.)

Only you know how well your loved ones can give you criticism, as well as how you’ll react and whether that will impact your relationship with them.Tread carefully.

Same/different genres.When the book that I’m working on now was through its first draft and I felt I’d taken it as far as I could, I tapped a writing friend whose work is completely different from mine as my first reader.It was a deliberate choice.I write magical realism/women’s fiction, she’s a scientist who writes gritty technical thrillers.I knew that she would find and comment on every single plot hole and continuity issue in my draft and help me make it as believable as possible.

Once I’d received her feedback and fixed whatever I could, I asked another friend — one who writes magical realism too — to read it.I knew this reader would totally get the world I’d created and help me extend it. Her knowledge of the genre, which might have made her blind to some of my problems in the first draft, was a huge asset to the second one.

Writer versus non-writer. Your ideal beta reader doesn’t necessarily have to be another writer, just someone who enjoys a good story and can give articulate feedback about what works and what doesn’t.One of the last people I show my manuscripts to before I send them off to my agent is a Catholic-school-educated math freak, who takes great pleasure in searching out and destroying my grammatical errors.

So Where Can I Find a Beta Reader?

It can be hard to connect with other writers when you are starting out, especially ones generous enough to serve as readers.Here are a few places to look:

Writer Unboxed! The Writer Unboxed Facebook group has a document with the names and contact info of members looking for/willing to serve as beta readers.(If you aren’t a member of the FB group, look here for more information.)

Other online writing groups/forums.There’s a slew out there, often targeted toward specific genres and/or writing levels.I hesitate to endorse any over another, but I personally had a good experience with zoetrope.com.Writers post short stories/chapters for review, but must first review the work of others — a good way to see if you and a potential beta reader are compatible.

Libraries and bookstores. Check the bulletin boards at libraries, bookstores, coffee shops — places other writers are known to gather.You may find information about writing groups and writers looking to connect.

Writing classes.When my first novel was close to being finished, I took a writing class aboutfinishing your manuscript.It was a great way to find a beta reader who understood exactly what the stakes were, because she was going through the same experience. We became each other’s readers AND cheerleaders.

Beta Reader Etiquette

So now that you are ready to take on a beta reader, what’s the care and feeding procedure?Here are a few things you should know:

Be a giver, not a taker.The best way to get a beta reader is to BE a beta reader, or at least be a part of the community.Joining an online forum or writers’ group and having your first post or conversation be about what you need is, quite frankly, a turnoff. (So is emailing an author that you’ve never met and demanding they read your manuscript.And yes, that actually happens.)I feel silly saying this, but I’ve seen it occur often enough that it actually needs to be put out there.So, don’t be that person.Instead, hang out for a bit.Get a sense of the place.Comment for a while, and maybe help somebody else out before asking for assistance.

Adjust your expectations. Some beta readers are great on plot and characterization.Others rock on continuity issues.Still others are helpful when it comes to grammar, spelling, and technical issues.It’s rare to find one person who can do all things.It’s likely that you will need multiple readers at different stages of your manuscript. Before you hand over your pages, have a chat about what you need and what your reader is willing to offer.And consider doing a single chapter first, so that you can get a feel for each other.If your writing isn’t your reader’s cup of tea, or if there edits aren’t what you need, you can both walk away without too much time invested.

Don’t waste your readers’ eyes. Your manuscript is only going to be brand new to somebody once, so don’t squander that moment.Make sure your story is in as good a shape as you can possibly get it on your own before you pass it along.And think carefully about how you use your beta’s time.If one of your beta’s is great on grammar and continuity, for example, it makes more sense to ask them to read toward the end of your manuscript’s journey than at the beginning.

The only words you need to say are “thank you.” Getting feedback is hard, especially if it’s not what you want to hear.(And admit it — all of us writers want to hear that our work is perfect.)Sometimes our immediate reaction is to argue and say they’ve misunderstood what we’ve written.That’s not a very gracious response to someone who is essentially doing us a favor.

If you get feedback you disagree with, put it away for a while.I usually skim my beta reader’s notes and then sit on them for at least a week, whether I agree or not. Often in that time, I’ll come to realize that what they are telling me is right. Sometimes it takes me longer — multiple drafts later — to understand that they had a valid point and that by incorporating their feedback I’ll make my book stronger.It’s hard to be open-minded, but the whole point of asking for feedback is to figure out what needs to be changed, right?And if you aren’t open to change, then you aren’t going to grow as a writer.

And sometimes I just don’t agree with the comments.That’s the beauty of being the author — I can make the story what I want.But at a minimum, the beta reader has given me her time and effort, as well as something to think about, and for that I owe her my thanks.(And usually wine and chocolate, too.)So do what your mother taught you, and send a note expressing your gratitude.

Okay readers, it’s your turn.Where have you found your beta readers, and what are your tips for getting the most out of the relationship?

Wish you could buy this author a cup of joe?

Liz Michalski’s first novel, Evenfall, was published by Berkley Books (Penguin). Liz has been a reporter, an editor, and a freelance writer. In her previous life, she wrangled with ill-tempered horses and oversized show dogs. These days she’s downsized to one husband, two children and a medium-sized mutt.

Comments

I have had some good local beta readers, but I live in a small town and there aren’t any other writers here in my sub-genre. I found some of my best beta readers through Goodreads (especially the Beta Readers group there) and other online writers’ forums. I sought out others who write in my genre and who have completed a novel or two. I know that there are great non-writer beta readers out there, but I haven’t met them yet.

While my indie publishing experience did not produce an avalanche of sales, it did provide me with a few beta readers. I used my email list to send out a request and immiately found volunteers. I also found Wattpad to be useful for finding readers. By posting a chapter of my new novel each week, I developed a bit of a following (though to really kill it on Wattpad you have to be engaged in all the social areas). I picked up 5 or 6 betas by simply messaging my regular readers. Now I have about 10 total betas that are happy to read for me. That’s plenty for me. My wife and sister also read. Both more than willing to tell me when I’m sucking the sludge from the bottom of the pond.

Oddly, I’m finding it much harder to find a YA and middle grade critique group than beta readers. I seem to be a bit backward in that respect.

I’m intrigued by Wattpad, Ron — I know several writers who love it. I don’t have an account yet but I have checked it out. I’m surprised you haven’t found a YA critique group there — I know a ton of teens who use it and give each other feedback. Good luck with it.

Have you considered approaching your local schools for Y.A. and Middle Grade beta readers? The school librarian may be able to help you find readers, as will teachers, and the school librarian and teachers are also great candidates for beta readers because they usually have familiarity with books suited to their students. They might also be interested in having you come into the classroom to work with or talk to the kids and that can be a great way to promote your work directly to the people who will be your fans, and also a great way to learn more about your market and hone your stories because you’ll get real time feedback from the people who matter. :-)

That’s great that you have family you can count on for reads, Kevin. And I think getting feedback from people outside the genre you write makes such a big difference. They see the writing, not necessarily the conventions, and seem to question more.

Beta readers! I have a love/hate relationship. Goodreads Groups has some reliable beta readers. I try not to use too many beta readers on the same novel. More than 3 or 4 can create conflicting issues. I never use family or friends for feedback; personal relationships are seldom unbiased. I often profile the beta readers to see what kinds of books they read, their age and occupation, if they are writers or editors, etc. Great tip, Liz, to check out libraries and bookshops for beta readers. Thank you!

Others may have different opinions, Carmel, but yes, for me, a critique partner is someone who sees it chapter by chapter and someone with whom I am exchanging work. A beta reader doesn’t necessarily need me to read for her. (Although I have swapped reads.)

I found beta readers in all your suggested realms, but where the real value happened, for me, was in the follow-up. I created a long list of questions to interview my beta reader after he / she read my manuscript. I pulled honest thoughtful answers to tough details about characters, plot lines, motivations, setting…the list was endless. I covered delicate points part of me didn’t want to hear, and clarified the readers response to points I thought I’d made clear. I took each beta reader to lunch (got them tipsy?) and spent hours pouring over pages of questions, taking a ton of notes.

Beta readers are awesome. They take part in making us better writers. Take full advantage of what they have to offer, ego aside.

This is such a useful, well thought-out, generous post. I’m sending it to a writer friend who has so outgrown her writing group (she’s accomplished and famous, no one else is published) that she got booted out. And yet she recognizes that fundamental need to have someone else look at her work and give her an objective read. I admire that in her, and it speaks not just to her humility but her commitment to her craft, her honesty, and her willingness to work hard.

I also live in the boonies and the only critique group I’ve encountered in my town is poetry, which I find I don’t know how to critique. Critiquing is an art. I’ve known good writers who are bad critiquers and bad writers who are good critiquers. I’ve got one truly excellent reader but I feel I depend on her too much. Being lousy at networking, this has always been an issue for me. I checked out the page on Mod Squad but couldn’t figure out how to contact people in the list! Any clues on that score? BTW, Liz M. I believe we have the same agent (MW).

I live on a rural island. So you may think that finding a beta reader is hard. But that’s not the case. My writing has benefitted from the feedback I’ve received from fellow writers and as well as avid readers.

Thank you for this article, Liz. But I must disagree with… ‘all of us writers want to hear that our work is perfect’ I don’t want to hear that because the reason I’m asking for help is to improve my writing. There’s always room for improvement. And if I hear that it’s perfect I wonder if my writing has even been read.

Synchronicity is a wonderful thing. At the very time I’m feeling a restlessness about my inconsistent writing and lack of feedback, this is the second blog post I’ve read today on the subject! I think I might be better suited to a critique group right now, as I wade back into fiction waters and welcome the motivation, but the general principle is the same.

“Who better than your mother” is something I once tricked myself into believing, many years ago. I shared with my mother a short story I was working on, and all she came back with were questions about why the character’s mother was such an a-hole, and that if I publish it, people will think she herself is an a-hole, because “obviously” the mother character is her. “It really hurt my feelings,” she said. Never again.

In hindsight, I should have known it would go down like that. Though in my defense, the mother character had only one small appearance, and she wasn’t *that* bad.

My beta reader is a close friend who is also a writer. We get together often and talk about books and writing and whatnot, but we have one rule: no in-person writing feedback. Only via email. Occasionally by phone. It’s easier to be honest when the person isn’t sitting across the table with pleading eyes. At least, that’s true in our case.

We don’t even express gratitude anymore; it’s just assumed that when one of us reads something for the other, the roles will soon reverse. It’s a comfortable, helpful relationship.

Thanks for the post. I never considered looking at postings in libraries and bookstores, so that’s a helpful tip.

To reiterate what I wrote in my post touching on this a couple of months ago ( http://bit.ly/1JEzUHi ) I think the mistake so many writers are making is in using other writers as beta readers. Your Catholic math-freak is your best reader if not a writer. Your book is being created for readers, not writers, right? In that case, your best input is likelier to come from readers, not writers who inevitably (and naturally, they can’t help it) read as writers. You want people who read as readers, surely.

Hi Porter. Maybe I just got lucky, but my beta reader is a writer who is also a talented book reviewer. So when he reads my work, he approaches it as a reviewer, rather than as a … I dunno, pleasure reader. I think it’s the best of both worlds. I definitely see your point; perhaps having a writer as one’s beta reader is a good idea only in such a circumstance.

I missed your post first time around, but this is great: “Some folks in book culture seem to go far out of their way to throw garlands at everyone’s effort. Then when you speak to them later, they admit that they were ‘just being nice.’ How nice is a lie?”

How many times per day do you come across this? Like, ten? It’s out of control.

Anyway, normally I wouldn’t chime in on something not intended for me, but it’s a good excuse to say howdy to an old Pub Perspectives acquaintance. Hope you’re well. DD

I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive, Porter. There are writers who are great readers/reviewers. And there are people I know who can be counted on to give me unvarnished feedback, although they may soften it with a glass of wine and a smile. I do agree that there’s a degree of superficial niceness you need to avoid when you are searching for the truth about your writing and what you need to improve.

A good and true post, Liz. To ring in: I belong to a robust local writers’ group in my city, and under its umbrella, a critique group of six writers total (with a mix of genres). I feel like we all put significant thought into our feedback for the others and find their honest commentary on my work absolutely essential.

Separately, two or three of my non-writer friends belong to book clubs which have members willing to read unpublished work. In fact they get a little giddy at the notion. They read for pleasure, of course, but can identify major troubles and any elements they’d like more of. I ran my first novel (now resting in a drawer) through two such clubs and plan to ask for the same when I finish edits on my newest effort.

I tip my hat to Denise Willson’s comment about posing questions of beta readers, especially writer-readers who might examine a story in such depth. Sometimes in our critique exchanges we type story questions that we hope the others will address when they respond.

Hi! Great post =) I was just wondering if anyone had reservations about finding beta readers/CP’s online and plagiarism? Or is like an unwritten rule among writers, that in general no one steals another writer’s work? I curious if this has happened. I usually only exchange the first 50 pages at first…but I’m a little afraid to go further just in case! haha Any thoughts?? I currently have an online beta reader and I love him, I just don’t have that relationship where I necessarily trust him =P However, he’s given me 50 pages of his book, too, so there’s that.

Others may have had different experiences, but I’ve never worried about someone stealing my work. Usually by the time I ask someone to beta for me I’ve known them for a bit and have a good sense of them as a person. (One of the benefits of being a part of a community before you ask.)

This is a thoughtful breakdown. My beta readers all came from my in-person critique group. (It’s a wonderful, hardworking, positive group.) I got to know them and their writing/feedback styles before asking them to be beta partners. It worked wonderfully. I also like to have several betas, a nice mix of writers, non-writers, harsh, fluffy, etc., so I can get lots of perspectives and take the common ground.